You are caring for a patient with renal failure.His morning laboratory results reveal an abnormal potassium level of 6.8.This value is higher than it was on the previous day,when the level was within normal limits.You page the patient's provider,but he does not return your call right away.You become busy with another patient and forget to notify the provider again and fail to mention the critical laboratory value to the oncoming nurse during shift report.Which of the following does this scenario illustrate? Select all that apply.

A) Failure to implement a plan of care
B) Failure to evaluate
C) Malpractice
D) Failure to assess and diagnose

Question

Kayla Douglas · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : A,B,D, Explanation :  Failure to implement a plan of care and failure to evaluate are two of the most common causes of nursing malpractice claims.The scenario represents a failure to follow standards of care,failure to communicate,and failure to document,which are in the category of failure to implement a plan of care.It also represents a failure to assess and report a significant change in the patient's condition,which is part of the category of failure to evaluate.The nurse did assess the potassium level and recognize that it was too high.The scenario does not provide enough information to determine malpractice.To establish malpractice,the four elements of duty,breach of duty,causation,and injury/damages have to be established.There is no information provided regarding whether the patient suffered an injury as the result of the nurse's breach of duty.

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